New wood-burning stoves in the UK will soon carry health warnings detailing the air pollution they produce, under government plans. Ministers have proposed cutting smoke emissions from new stoves by 80%, though this primarily affects models already meeting the stricter limit. The consultation suggests this will only reduce overall toxic emissions from wood burning by 10% over the next decade.
Clean air campaigners argue the proposals don’t address pollution from existing stoves, drawing a comparison to low-tar cigarettes. Domestic burning contributes 20% of the UK’s fine particulate matter – the most dangerous air pollutant – and is linked to 2,500 early deaths,3,700 diabetes cases,and 1,500 asthma cases annually.
around 12% of UK households use wood burners, with over 90% having alternative heating sources. The government plans to introduce labels for new stoves, warning of health impacts, and rate energy efficiency from A to C. Wood sold for burning will also carry a health warning. Fines for selling insufficiently dry wood will increase from £300 to £2,000.
The proposed emission limit for new stoves is 1g per hour, down from 5g per hour. Approximately 70% of stoves tested since 2018 already meet this standard, with a three-to-five-year implementation timeframe. Emissions from domestic burning rose 36% between 2009 and 2020, largely due to increased wood burning.
Critics, including Global Action Plan and Mums for Lungs, state the measures don’t go far enough, advocating for action on existing stoves and increased local authority powers. Research indicates a lack of enforcement, with no prosecutions for illegal wood burning in England in the year to August 2025, despite over 15,000 complaints.
The consultation closes on March 19th.
